Takaichi Meets Families of Japanese Abductees, Vows She Is "Ready to Face Kim Jong Un"

On the 16th, Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae once again expressed her willingness to hold a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to secure the early return of Japanese abductees.

According to NHK, Prime Minister Takaichi met with families of Japanese abductees at the prime minister's residence that day and said, "Resolving the abduction issue is the mission entrusted to me," adding, "I am prepared to face Chairman Kim Jong Un head-on at a summit-level meeting so that Japan and North Korea can envision a future in which they share prosperity and peace." She continued, "I want to use every possible means to somehow break through the current deadlock and translate it into concrete results."

Previously, in November last year, Prime Minister Takaichi attended a national rally calling for the early return of Japanese abductees and stated, "I will devote my utmost efforts to realizing the return of the abductees as soon as even a single day earlier," adding, "We have already conveyed to the North our desire to hold a summit meeting." However, there has been no clear progress.

Takaichi Sanae, Japan's prime minister, is speaking after attending a national rally held in Tokyo last November calling for the early return of Japanese abductees. Kyodo and Yonhap News

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru said at a regular press conference that day, "The issue of abductees is the most important challenge for the Takaichi Cabinet," and regarding a possible summit meeting, he said, "We have been making requests to North Korea through various channels up to now." When asked about the possibility of a Japan-North Korea summit being held if a U.S.-North Korea summit takes place in conjunction with U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, he replied, "I will refrain from commenting based on any assumptions."

Meanwhile, at the meeting that day, the Association of Families of Japanese Abductees conveyed the position that if all abductees can return at once while the parents' generation of the abductees are still alive, they will not oppose Japan lifting its sanctions on North Korea. They then requested the implementation of the course of action decided at the family association meeting the previous day and appealed for efforts to realize the abductees' return.